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\u200eIslamabad, 20 May 2026 – \u200eA virtual meeting of the Pakistan\u2013Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group was held today at Parliament House, Islamabad, aimed at further strengthening bilateral parliamentary, economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between the two brotherly countries.\n\u200e
\n\u200eThe meeting was convened by Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan from the Pakistani side, while the Uzbek delegation participated via video link under the convenorship of Senator Kutbiddin Burkhanov. Senator Husna Bano and Ms. Misbah Khar, Advisor to the Chairman Senate and Secretary of Parliamentary Friendship Groups, also attended the meeting. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present as well.
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\n\u200eDuring the meeting, the Uzbek side highlighted the deep-rooted historical, cultural, religious, and social ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Senator Kutbiddin Burkhanov appreciated the recent visit of Ms. Misbah Khar to Uzbekistan and emphasized the shared commitment of both countries toward enhancing women\u2019s participation in politics and public life.
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\n\u200eMs. Misbah Khar thanked the Uzbek side for its warm hospitality and remarked that Uzbekistan felt like a second home to her. She also invited the Uzbek delegation to visit Pakistan and proposed the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on parliamentary cooperation to further institutionalize bilateral engagement.
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\n\u200eSenator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan welcomed the participants and underscored the immense potential for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, culture, defence, security, and regional connectivity. He stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to promote regional stability and create a conducive environment for economic collaboration.
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\n\u200eHighlighting Pakistan\u2019s commitment to regional connectivity, Senator Afnan Ullah emphasized the significance of the Trans-Afghan Railway Project in linking Central Asia with South Asia. He noted that enhanced connectivity would unlock new avenues for trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges across the region.
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\n\u200eThe Senator also pointed to the growing trade volume between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and reiterated the mutual resolve to increase bilateral trade to USD 2 billion annually. He identified key sectors for enhanced economic cooperation, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, textiles, tourism, defence production, education, industrial development, research, and faculty exchange programmes.
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\n\u200eDiscussing regional security, Senator Afnan Ullah stressed that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan remain essential for the prosperity of both countries and the wider region. He called for stronger strategic cooperation in counterterrorism, defence collaboration, cultural development, and parliamentary oversight of bilateral agreements and initiatives.
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\n\u200eBoth sides agreed to further strengthen parliamentary ties through regular exchanges, joint initiatives, and enhanced institutional cooperation. It was also agreed that a comprehensive joint roadmap would be developed through the Parliamentary Friendship Groups to expand collaboration in diverse sectors, including disaster management, education, heritage preservation, and capacity-building initiatives.
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\n\u200eThe participants particularly emphasized cooperation in preserving Mughal heritage and promoting cultural diplomacy through closer collaboration between educational and cultural institutions. Both sides agreed to enhance parliamentary oversight for qualitative implementation of the high level agreements between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
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\n\u200eThe Uzbek side invited the Pakistani delegation to participate in the upcoming IPU Young Parliamentarians Conference scheduled to be held in Bukhara later this year.
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\n\u200eThe meeting was described as a constructive and forward-looking engagement reflecting the shared commitment of Pakistan and Uzbekistan to deepen bilateral relations and parliamentary diplomacy. Both sides reaffirmed their support for enhanced cooperation in trade, culture, history, regional peace, and sustainable development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"